K19′S GANG
A group of Swans can be collectively called several things……….a “Lamentation,Herd,Wedge,Bevy & a Ballet”.
I like a Ballet of Swans personally!
So this Ballet of Swans seems to be hanging around a shallow bay right beside Tsapee Narrows. It took me awhile to figure out why all of a sudden they relocated from the end of Tranquil to this spot. Tranquil is far more quiet & out of the way. This spot has boat traffic going near it during the day.
Than it dawned on me that the “Ice” must be stopping them from foraging in the shallows! Tranquil is covered at the moment with a sheet of expansive Ice. We haven’t had any wind & the temperature has been below zero. Tranquil creek supplies all the fresh water to the inlet. Fresh water is lighter than salt water & floats on the top of the salt. This fresh water lens freezes because of the temperature & with there being no wind.
The ice would be thicker down where the Swans hang out as well,so they cannot forage for food.
So they have relocated at the moment to this shallow bay until it warms & the ice breaks up.
I counted 8 in the Ballet. (4 adults & 4 adolescents)
UPDATE: (January 23rd,2013) Received some info about K19 from Jim Hawkings with the Canadian Wildlife Service out of Whitehorse. This is what he had to say about K19…………….”Not sure if anyone else (Ruth??) has tracked this down yet, but this is one of the birds captured in Yukon Territory, summer 2003 during the captures for the satellite telemetry study spearheaded by Ruth Shea and Rod Drewien. The bird was captured on 22 July 2003 at Taye Lake, 37 miles NW of Whitehorse (band # 1939-01708). It was not marked with a satellite transmitter. This is the first recovery I know of from this bird, but Ruth (or other folks in Southern BC) may have other sightings that never made their way to the banding lab’s recovery database. The other banded bird in the group was likely K19′s mate, formerly marked with neckband K18.
Sightings such as this help us continue to piece together the migrations and relationships between breeding and wintering grounds for Trumpeter Swans and other birds.”
I got out today & went straight down to Cannery Bay,but when I came around the corner of Tsapee Narrows & noticed the Trumpeters in that shallow bay,I stopped to shoot a few. I continued on down to Cannery & upon arriving was very surprised to find not a one on the float or overturned walkway!
I did find a “Pod” of Lions (12 or so) swimming lazily out in front of the float however. They were moving silently & slowly as one! They were also sticking their flippers out of the water to warm up. Why the heck they weren’t hauled out onto the float where it would of been much warmer is a bit of a mystery for me?
I left the boys & headed over to Rankin Rocks but once again that Ice sheet stopped me. I calculate the ice sheet to be about 5 kilometers in length!
Couldn’t do much down there so I headed back to town. The moon was coming up so I was consciously looking for eagles to shoot with it.
Stopped at Tsapee Narrows to visit with both the Daredevil & his partner Delilah. It’s always nice to visit with them & they always greet me with open wings.
Continued on to visit with Moe & Maggie at Morpheus Island. Both came out to say hi.
Moved on to Deadman Island for a visit with Romeo & Juliette. The sky by this time had a nice dash of wispy cloud! The light was diminished considerably,so only silhouette’s tonight. Said goodnight to my friends & called it a day.
All in all a good afternoons shoot!
Thanks for the tale of the wildlife today. Very interesting. I see K19 too….again.